Blackwood run to raise money for heart defibrillator

A fundraising run will take place at Blackwood Showfield on Saturday, September 21 to raise money to install a potentially-life saving heart defibrillator.

The event is being organised by sisters Rhian Price, 38 and Bethan Morgan-Hoskins, 35, in memory of their father, Paul Morgan.

Mr Morgan died suddenly on January 2 aged 65, after suffering a heart attack.

Advertisements

Rhian and Bethan are hoping to raise £1,800 to install the heart equipment at the showfield, which was one of their father’s favourite places.

Mr Morgan, who had been married to his wife Lesley since 1980, was a member of Blackwood Bowls Club for 37 years.

A keen bowler, Mr Morgan was the club’s ‘Clubman of the Year’ in 2004 and become a Life Member in 2006 after 25 years of service to the club.

Advertisements

Paul Morgan was a long-serving member of Blackwood Bowls Club

He also served as President of the Rhymney and Sirhowy Valley Bowling Association, as well as President of the Monmouthshire Bowling Association, which he represented as a cabinet member on the Welsh Bowling Association.

Away from bowls, Mr Morgan was a member of Mynyddislwyn Male Voice Choir.

Describing her father, Rhian said: “He always had a smile on his face and was always laughing. He did a lot of unsung work and didn’t like a fuss.

“He was kind, caring and loving. He was a real gentleman.

“His dog, Merlin, was his life. He was always out walking him on the showfield.”

David Witchell, chairman of Blackwood Bowls Club, spoke at Mr Morgan’s funeral, saying: “Paul remained a hugely committed member of our club. An elder-statesman, a considered ear and a true friend to all that knew him.

“The trophies and honours that he amassed pale into insignificance when compared to real honours in life. He really was a unique character. He offered friendship, trust and he won upmost respect.”

After Mr Morgan’s funeral, £1,300 was raised by his family to install a defibrillator at the bowls club.

The first defibrillator was installed on May 2, alongside a training session on how to use the equipment.

Rhian said: “We were really proud and overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity in donating.

“It’s peace of mind for us that people can access a defibrillator and not have to go through what our father went through.”

A memorial bowls tournament was held at the bowls club on Sunday, August 18, raising £512 for the British Heart Foundation and Velindre Cancer Centre.

The tournament was held in memory of Mr Morgan, as well as late club members Charles Winston and Gwyn Berkley.

Kimberley Lloyd-Owen, operations manager at charity Welsh Hearts, said: “It is always sad but it’s often the case that it takes a tragedy such as this to highlight the importance and need for public access heart defibrillators to be available in every community.

“In this, Welsh Hearts is proud to be supporting the inspiring initiative of Paul Morgan’s daughters Rhian and Bethan and family, who thus far have donated funds from funeral donations to place a defibrillator at their father’s bowls club and are now continuing with their fundraising to place a further public access defibrillator at Blackwood Showfield.”